Map-case.



No. 798,873. PATENTBD SEPT. 5, 1905. G. B. CASE.

MAP CASE.

APPLIOATIOH nun IAB. 29. 1900.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905.

C. B. CASE.

MAP CASE.

APPLICATION rum) ma. 2a. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CLINTON E. CASE, OF BROOKVILLE, INDIANA.

MAP-CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1905.

Application filed March 29, 1905. Serial No. 252,776.

To all whom it nuty concern.-

Be it known that I, CLINTON E. CASE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Brookville, in the county of Franklin and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Map-Cases, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to improvements in map-cases; and its object is to provide means whereby a large number of maps may be arranged compactly in a small space, any map may be inspected without requiring any other map to be handled, and additional maps hung without disturbing those already in position or using a great amount of wall-space. This object is attained by the use of the device illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings; and the invention consists in certain novel features ofthe same,as will be hereinafter first fully described and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a map-case embodying the invention, one of the maps being shown partly drawn out as though forinspection. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the top removed and the supporting bracket shown in section. Fig. 3 is a transverse section. Fig. 4: is an elevation of the end of one of the sections looking at the inner side of the same and showing a modified construction. Fig. 5 is a de tail section showing the manner of securing the heading or molding on the outer free end of the map, and Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the case partly broken away and with the maps removed.

In carrying out my invention I provide a supporting-bracket 1, which is shown in the present instance in the form of a vertical tongue or strip secured to the wall of a room. It will be understood, of course, that it may be part of a post or standard set up anywhere in the room. The vertical side edges of this supporting-bracket are beveled so as to converge toward the wall, as at 2, thereby forming with the wall a dovetailed recess which will coact with similar formations in the case and constitute a rigid support for the same.

The case is made in sections, and the lowermost section or base 3 is provided in its back with a recess at, adapted to engage the lower end of the supporting-bracket. The said section is also held against dropping from the bracket in any desired manner, the means shown in the drawings being a screw or similar fastening 5, inserted through the depending flange 6 of the base and the lower end of the bracket or tongue. This depending flange 6 is a continuation of the back or rear side of the base and serves as a neat finish to the map-case and also protects the wall-paper. \Vere this protectingdepending portion of the back not provided, the hands would come into contact with the wall when grasping the map close thereto and would quickly soil the same. The back of the basehas its upper edge slightly below the ends of the base, as shown at7, and

the front wall of the base is extended slightly upward above the ends, the front and bottom of the base being preferably merged in a curve, so as to present a more pleasing appear ance than would be the case with a sharp angular corner. The upwardly-projecting edge of the base has its front face made convex, so as to present a round surface for the map in a superposed section to run over, as shown at 8, while in the inner face of the said projecting edge is formed a concave groove 9 to permit the said edge to lit around a map guiding or supporting roller in the saidsuperposed section. Bearing-plates or brackets 10 are secured to the inner sides of the end walls of the base, and in these brackets or bearing-plates I mount spring-rollers 11, upon which maps are wound and secured. The free ends of the maps extend through slots 12 in the bottom of the case, and beads or moldings 13 are secured to the extremities of the same. The bead is preferably in the form of a rod having a section removed, the edge of the map being placed in the angular recess formed by removing the section let and secured by replacing the said section and then inserting small fastenings through the said section and the map edge into the larger section. The edge of the map will thus be held firmly between two sets of clamping-faces and will be maintained in a smooth condition without any liability to tear out. A small ring or other handle 15 may be secured to the head to facilitate the drawing out of the map; but

this handle is not necessary and may be dispensed with, if preferred.

In practice two maps will be mounted in the base-section and ordinarily that number will be found to be all that can be accommodated without making the base bulky. When two maps are all that are required for the users purposes, a top 16 will be fitted thereon; but when a larger number of maps are needed additional sections 17 are superposed on the base and any number of these sections may be used. Furthermore, they may be added at intervals and in such numbers as the developing needs of the office or reference room may demand. The top has its back wall'carried slightly downward below its side walls, as shown at 18, so as to rest on the upper edge of the back wall of the base or the next section between the side walls of the said section or base, thereby serving as a lock or joint to hold the parts together. The back wall of the top is also formed with a dovetailed recess 19, adapted to engage the supporting bracket or tongue. The front wall of the top terminates slightly above the lower edges of its end walls and is provided with a concave groove 20 in it's under inner face to receive the upwardly-projecting edge of the front wall of the base or the interposed section. The side Walls of the top, it will be readily seen, are by the arrangement and construction described brought against the ends of the front wall of the base or subjacent section while the ends of the rear wall of the top are brought against the side walls of the base or subjacent section. The several sections are thus maintained in perfect registry, and this result is further provided for by the supporting tongue or bracket engaging the central dovetailed recess 19 in the rear wall of all the sections. The intermediate sections will be duplicates in their construction and may be used interchangeably The rear wall 22 of each section is arranged with its upper edge slightly below the upper edges of the side walls and its lower edge the same distance below the lower edges of the side walls. The front wall 23 is likewise arranged with its upper edge slightly above the upper edges of the side walls and its lower edge the same distance above the lower edges of the side walls, so that the sides of one section will engage the front and rear walls of the adjacent sections and hold the several sections together. The front wall of each intermediate section is provided with the horizontal slots 24, through which the maps may be drawn out for inspection. On the inner sides of the end walls of each intermediate section I secure brackets or bearing-plates 25, similar to the bearing-plates 10, in which are mounted spring-rollers carrying maps. Near the front edges of the side walls I secure additional brackets or bearing-plates 26, having notches 2'7 to receive the trunnions of the map-supporting rollers 28. These rollers 28 are arranged just inside the section close to the slots 24, so as to support the maps and prevent binding or tearing in the slot, due to a tendency to sag within the case. The lowermost slot 24 in each section, it will be noticed, is formed by the edges of the front walls of the two adjacent sections, and for this reason the upper edge of the front wall of each section and the base is made convex at its upper edge.

Should the maps be very heavy, and conse* quently create excessive friction on the front walls of the sections, the brackets 26 may be set so as to project slightly above the end walls of the sections, as shown at Fig. 4, and the strips 23, constituting the front walls, dispensed with, the projecting ends of the brackets engaging the sections above and below to form lock-joints, just as the front walls do when present.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A map case comprising a retainingbracket, a series of map-carrying sections having their rear walls engaging said bracket, each section except the lowermost resting upon and supported by the section immediately below it and means for securing the lowermost section.

2. A map-case comprising a supporting bracket having beveled edges, a series of mapcarrying sections provided on their backs with dovetailed recesses adapted to engage said beveled edges, and means for securing the lowermost section.

3. A map-case comprising a series of superposed sections, each section having its front wall fitting between the end Walls of the next section above and its rear wall fitting between the end walls of the next section below.

4. Amap-case comprising a series of superposed sections each having its front wall fitting between the end walls of the next section above, the front face of said front wall presenting a convex surface and the inner face of the same presenting a concave groove.

5. A map-case comprising a series of superposed sections, the front wall of each section projecting up between the end walls of the next section above and terminating short of and out of contact with the lower edge of the front wall of said upper section.

6. In a map-case, the combination of two sections, one resting on the other, map-carrying rollers within the sections, and supporting-rollers within the upper section near the front of the same, the lower section having its front wall projecting up near the lower IIO supporting-roller and provided with a coni In testimony whereof I have signed this cave groove in its inner face. specification in the presence of two subscrib- 7. In a map-case, the combination of two ing witnesses. sections, one superposed on the other, the end CLINTON E. CASE. 5 walls of the lower section projecting above \Vitnesses:

the lower edge of the back wall of the upper JOHN (J. SIHRK,

section. IIARRY B. SMITH. 

